Imprinting machine for china



July 15, 1952 M. MANN 2,603,149' IMPRINTING MACHINEFOR CHINA -Filed July31, 1946 Tsheets-sheet 1 l I l lil L III." l 1r u .76- -H E I 7-5 I l 7@g l 77 2 6U I l i 99@ ya' 8. I 93 ET 2 I V I l f l L- 75a I I 6 2 4 l WeI E fw l 6/ -9/ i I 126' @a l 29 65 l feo 130 Veil f2 l M5 3- f/ l 37,d0 I l I I I l l l I I I 'I July 15, 1952 M lvlANNv 2,603,149

IMPRINTING MACHINE FOR CHINA Filed July 31, 1946 7 sheets-sheet? lr \5/I?? vena?" ga y Mmm .Fifa/Wege `uly. 1-5, 1952 M. MANN IMPRINTINGMACHINE FOR CHINA 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 51, 1946 A@ m i l/W .4 P.y

July 15, 1952 M. MANN Y 2,603,149

' IMPRINTING MACHINE FOR CHINA Filed July s1, 1946 7 sheets-sheet 4 Fay@28 Z?? vena?"Ak Jaffz@ Mainz wim 30 XXX0/7x96 AI IVI/IA Jly 15, 1952` M.MANN y IMPRINTING MACHINE FOR CHINA 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed July 51,1946 July l5, 1952 M, MANN IMPRINTING MACHINE FOR CHINA '7 Sheets-Sheet6 Filed July 51, 194e July 1'5, 1952 'M MANN IMPRINTING MACHINE FORCHINA '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed July 51, 194e y M @JQ fornegs PatentedJuly 15, 1952 IMPR-INTING NIACHINE FOR CHINA Martin Mann, Chicago,Ill.,` assigner to Stetson China Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof Illinois Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,506

(o1. 10i-41) I 6 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in stamping or impressingdevices, and has for one purpose to provide an improved means of andmethod for applying ink, pigments and the like to china and pottery.

Another purpose is to provide an improved methodV of and means iorhandling china, pottery and the like, while applying designs or surfacetreatment thereto.

Another purpose is to provide improved inking or pigment supplying meansfor such a device.

Another purpose is to provide improved driving and operating means forsuch a device.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecication and claims.

The` invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatioally in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation; A

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure /l is a section on an enlarged scale on the line iiof Figure 3;

, Figure 5 is a partial side elevation of the inking or pigment applyingassembly;

Figure 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a section on the line -'I oi Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a detail;

Figure 9 and Figure 10 illustrate, respectively and schematically, aside elevation and a plane View of a portion oi the mechanism in theinitial stage or the iinal stage oi handling a plate, dish or the like.

Figures 11 and 12 are similar views illustrating, respectively andschematically, a side elevation and a plan view of the correspondingparts at the inking or pigment receiving station of the impressingstamp;

Figures 13 and 14 are similar schematic views illustrating thecorresponding parts with the dish centered;

Figures l5 and 16 are a similar pair of schematic views, respectively inelevation and plane, illustrating the dish at the time it receives thestamp;

Figures 1'7 and 18 are a pair of schematic drawings, respectively inside elevation and plane view, illustrating the inking mechanism at theunload or load position, when the work is not actually receiving thestamp;

Figures 19 and 2G are similar schematic, drawings, respectively in sideelevation and plane view, illustrating the inking oi the stamp.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates any frame supported on the base I,which may include the vertical components 2, a top transverse frame 3,bottom transverse members 4, and a central pedestal or support 5. 6generally indi cates any suitable motor which, through a belt 1, drivesa pulley 8 associated with any suitable gear reduction, not shown indetail but generally inf dicated as 9. Extending from the gear reduction9 is the shaft It carrying apinion I i in mesh with a gear I2 on asleeve t3 supported in any suit-f able end thrust ball bearing assemblyIll. A c entering assembly IE is shown in Figure 3, for the top of thesleeve 13a. IS indicates any suitable centering shaft. Rotated with thesleeve I3a is any suitable table Il, shown as having a circular edge.Mounted on the table I'I, for rotation uni--l tarily therewith butadaptedV for vertical movement in relation thereto, is the workreceiving assembly which includes the work support proper I3. Positionedbelow the support I8 is another member I9. The two members are separatedby supporting spacers 20. The lower member I9 is provided with limitAmembers 2| which pass throughY apertures 22 in the table I'I. They areprovided with adjustable limiting abutments or nuts 23. It will beunderstood that the coil spring 2f? is adapted normally to urge the worksupport I8 with its associate member I9 upwardly as; far

as the limits 23 will permit. The spring 24 is surrounded by a movableor telescopic sleeve 25 which issecured to the plate I9. It slides in afixed outer sleeve 25 provided with a removable head 2l whichy receivesthe outer end of the adjusting screw 2S, along which the lower spring.abutment 2S may be adjusted. The member 29 is suitablyfheld againstrotation and is in screw threaded relation with the stem 28. Thus as thescrew 2i! is rotated by applying a tool to the squared outer end thecompression of the spring 24 may be adjusted. 3l is any suitableabutment on the member 2B, which engages 'the cap 2. It will thus beunderstood that the work, support i5 is normally held in elevatedposition in relation to the table I'l. Mounted between the plates E8 andI9 is a gear 33 in mesh with a plurality of pinions 34, each of which ispivoted as at and carries a lever arm 36 with an upwardly projectingmember 3l passing through an aperture 38 in the support I8. Theapertures or slots are of suiilcient length to permit a predeterminedarc of movement of each of the levers 36, as will be clear from thediagrams Figures 10, 12, etc. Movement is imparted to the gear 33 by adrive pinion t0 which has an arm 4I to whichis secured an actuating link:i2 which extends to a lever Ps3 pivoted as at it to the table I'I. Itcar-- ries at its outer end a cam engaging lvroller 45. t will beunderstood that the link 42 may be ad-,f justed onthe levers il or 43.For examplel illustrate a plurality ci apertures 43a on the lever, 43. Aspring 46 is eiiectivenormally to return the gear 33 to initialposition, at which position the centering pins 31 are at the outwardlimit of their possible movement in the slots 38. As shown, for example,at the bottom of Figure 2, an actuating cam is provided, which isadapted to engage the roller 45 in response to the rotation of the tableI1 in the direction of the arrow of Figure 2. The cam may, for example,include a support or angle 2a, secured to the side frame member 2. Thecam proper 41 is pivoted to the member 2a, as at 48. It is normally heldin the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 by the compressed coilspring 49. Its possible movement is limited by a slot 58 which receivesa pin 5I. The spring 49 holds the members 41 in proper position to camthe roller 45 and cause a rotation ofthe pinion 48, which drives thegear 33 and the pinions 34 in such fashion as to move the centering pins31 toward the center of the work support plate I8. However, the spring49 gives yielding relief, so that the roller 45 may override the cam 41.It will be understood that the inward movement of the centering pins 31is limited by the circumferential edge of whatever plate or work isbeing treated. Since there may be a variation in size of the Work, thespring 49 serves as a self-adjusting spring release for the centeringmechanism above described.

,The upper sleeve portion |3a, which surrounds the rod I'6 above thetable I1, has surrounding collars 68, 6I, to which are secured a bracket62 having at its outer end a sleeve 63. Slidable in the sleeve 63 is therod 64 carrying at its lower end a chuck 65, in which the stamp 66 maybe removably mounted. The stamp includes a pin 61, a top plate 68secured thereto, and an annulus 69, of sponge rubber or the like. Itcarries a lower printing or stamping surface 18, carrying any suitablestamping or impressing elements 1|, of rubber or the like. 12 is a coilspring, fastened to the top plate 68.

The stamp 66 is vertically reciprocated through .excursions of twodifferent lengths, a short inking excusion, and a long printingexcursion. The two excursions are caused by the following structure: 15is a cam supporting ring associated with any suitable top plate 16 atthe upper end of the rod or shaft I6. The ring 15 carries a small cam orcams 11 and a large cam or cams 16. If but a single stamping or inkingexcursion is to be made at each rotation of the table I1, then but asingle cam of each size need be used. The arm 62 carries a guide track88 in which is slidable any suitable cross-head or guided structure 8|vcarrying a cam engaging roller 82 at its upper end. The cross-head 8|includes a lower portion 83, provided with an outwardly extending pin orpins 84, extending into a slot or slots 85 in the lever or forkstructure 86, pivoted as at 81 to theupper collar 68. It will thus beunderstood that when the roller 82 engages one of the cams 11 or 18 thecross-head portion 83 is depressed, thereby rotating the lever or yoke86 downwardly about its center 81. The roller 82 is normally yieldinglyupwardly thrust against the track 15 by suitable yielding means. Iillustrate, for example, the compressed coil spring 98, the lowerabutment for which is the bracket 9| at the bottom of the sleeve 63. Theupper end of the spring 98 engages the movable upper abutment 92, guidedon any suitable pin 93, and limited in its upward movement by the stop94. The pinr 93 also serves as centering means for the spring 98. Thetop abutment 92 is secured to the head 95 which moves unitarily with thepin or rod 64. The head 95 is also connected by the link 96 to the outerend of the yoke or lever 86. Thus the stamp 66 is normally held in itselevated position, in which it is shown in Figure 3, but is given aminimum downward movement by the cam 11 and a maximum downward movementby the cam 18.

In order to ink the stamp, or to supply to it whatever pigment ormaterial is to be applied, I employ the following structure: |88indicates an inking ring support, pivoted as at I8 I. Any suitable meansmay be employed for imparting to it a rotary oscillation about thecenter |8I. I illustrate, for example, an actuating cam. lever |82 whichis located below the table I1. It has an end cam roller |83 which isadapted to engage any suitable actuating cam |84, in response to therotation of the table I1. Such rotation causes the arm |88 to rotatefrom the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 or in Figure 18, intoa position in which its outer end overlies the work support I8, asshown, for example, in Figure 20. It will be noted that the lever |88 isshown as having a flat inking or pigment receiving annulus or disc |85.

Assuming that the cam |84, in response to the rotation of the table I 1from the position of Figure 18 to the position of Figure 20 has movedthe arm |88 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 20, the partsare so proportionate that the stamp 6'6 is moved downwardly against thedisc |85. This is the position in which it is shown in Figure ll. Itwill be understood that Figures l1, 12, 19 and 20 all show the variousparts at that particular stage of operation, in which the smaller cam 11has moved the stamp 66 downwardly against the annulus or disc |85, thecam |84 having at the same time been eiective to move the disc |85 intothe position in which it is shown in Figure 20. For a short period ofrotation of the table I 1, the cam roller |83 is not affected by the cam|84 or by the following cam ||8. However, as the rotation of the tableI1 continues in the direction of the arrows of Figure 20, the cam roller|83 strikes the plane outer surface I|8a of the cam ||8 and the resultis a return movement of the arm |88 to its initial position as shown inFigure 18. Thereafter, as the rotation of the table I1 continues, theroller 82 reaches the larger cam 18', and a stamping excursion ensues,in the course of which the stamp 66 strikes the already centered work.Meanwhile the arm |88, when it returns to its initial inward position,moves against a yielding cam I I2 which is hinged to a fixed member ||3on any suitable pedestal I I 4 on the table I1. The spring |I8 normallyholds the member II2 in elevated position. It also serves slightly toelevate the abutment II9 on a rod or stem |28 which is secured to thehinged bracket I2 I, which is hinged or pivoted as at |22 to the tableI1. The bracket carries at its upper end a motor |23, which through abelt |24 drives a pulley |25 on a shaft |26. The opposite end of theshaft |26 is journaled in bearings |21 supported on a lateral extension|28 of the bracket |2I. |29 is any suitable inking or pigment reservoirwhich feeds to a conic driven roller |38. The roller |38 engages anupper part of the oppositely conic roller |3| on and driven by the shaft|26. It will be understood that the annulus or disc |85 is free torotate about its center |85a at the outer end of the arm |88. When thearm |88 reaches the position in which it is shown in Figures 2 and 18the edge of the arm runs over the yielding cam I 2, as

shown in Figure 8. The result is a depression of the member I I2, whichpermits the abutment I l0 to drop. The result is to permit the bracketI2I to' rotate slightly, clockwise, about its axis |22. Thereby, theroller i3! engages the upper surface of the disc or annulus |05. Theroller I3I rotates and imparts rotation to the annulus |05, thusdistributing the pigment. It receives pigment from the upper conicroller and applies it to the upper surface of the annulus |05. Anysuitable stop i355' may be employed to limit the inward movement of. thearm |00. When the roller |03 next engages the cam |04, it is alreadyinked and ready to ink the stamp (i6, at the next inking excursion ofthe stamp.

Whereas in Figures l and 2 I illustrate a yieldingly thrust cam 4l, foractuating the work centering means, I illustrate in the diagram Figures14 and 15 a nxed cam 41a, with a yielding actuating arm 43h, In otherwords, it is immaterial Whether the yielding take-up of the invention isapplied to the cam or to the mechanism actuated by the cam. It will beunderstood that any suitable adjusting means may be employed.

I illustrate, for exampleineans for adjusting the axis of the inktransmitting roller |30. I illustrate a journal box which may belaterally adjusted by any suitable adjusting screws I6! and may bevertically adjusted by any suitable eccentric |02.

It will be understood that whereas in the claims I may employ the termsprinting or ink or inking that I wish these terms to be taken assuificiently broad to cover any modification of the surface of the work,whether by slightly changing its contour, or by applying thereto anyvisible ink, pigment, gilt, or any other such substance.

It will. be realized that whereas I have described and shown anoperative device nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape,number and dispositionl of parts Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Y The use and operation of the invention mentioned are as follows:

My invention is applicable to means for applying color, gold, pigmentand the like', to work to be stamped. A usual and useful applicationv isto stamping ceramic materials, such as china and pottery, but othermaterialsv may bev employed. It is applicable, for example, to operating on plates or discs ofv wood, metal and other materials,

rI-'he working table Il is rotated, relatively slowly, in a uniformdirection of rotation. It may be operated step by' step, withintervening pauses, but I find it Iconvenient to employ a uniform andfairly slow rate of rotation. Where the device is operated manually, andwithout automatic feeding means, the operator puts Vthe work. plate orthe like, on the work sup-port i8 and, after it has been stamped,removes it. It will be understood, however, that my invention mayefficiently be operated with any suita'bie` automatic work feeding andwork removing means.

` Assuming that the device is being operated with a manual feed, theoperator,y who may take a predetermined station, puts the work on thework support Iii, which is` thereafter rotated about its course by theusual rotation of the table I?. In the course of such rotation it re'-ceives the impression of the stamp B6', and is returned toward theoporators station. The

6' operator removes the stamped work, Aand applies an unstamped piece ofwork. Under certain circumstances it may be advantageousv to permit thework to adhere to the stamp, as the stam-p rises from the stampingoperation. In that eventthe completed work may be removed, manually ormechanically', and a new piece of work applied to the work support I8.However, I nnd it advantageous to employ a spring 'I2 'to prevent thework from adhering to the stamp; as any breakage by unintended droppingofthe workl adhering to the stamp shall thereby be prevented. .I

In the normal cycle of operation, after' the worl'r has been applied tothe work support I8, the clam il is engaged by the cam roller 45, andthe centering pins 31 are moved inwardly towards the center of thesupport IB, thus centering the work in relation to the center of thestamp 66. The stamp 66 at each rotation of the table I'I, makes -arelatively short downward inkreceivi-ng excursion, caused by the cam TI,and a relatively long downward ink imparting excursion, caused by thecam 18. The parts are so proportionate and related that, at the time thestamp 5E makes its downward ink rec'eiving excursion the annulus or disc|04 has already been inked by the roller I3I, and has beenmovedoutwardly by the cam |04 to the position of Figure 20. The stamp thenmoves to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1l, in Contact withthe inked annulus |05'. Thereafter the stamp recedes upwardly, and thecam I'I'l is eieotive to move the arm Iiii back to the position in whichit is shown in Figure Iiil The annulus er disc |05, as shown, forexample, in Figure i7, then receives its inliing, and is prepared` forthe next inking excursion of the stamp. But meanwhile the stamp, down`Wardly moved by the engagement of the roller S2 with the cam '58, movesto ther fully depressed oiiink imparting position of Figure 15, andstamps the work. After the stamp 65 has receded, for example, to theposition in' which it' is shown in Figures 9y and 13, then the operator'can remove the completed work and set a new piece. Y f' In the presentshowing I illustrate butl a single work support IB onV the table I1. Itis pos'- sible and practical to employ more than one Work support on asingle table. For example,

the size of the table may be increased, and its rotation rate reduced,and the parts shown herein' may be duplicated, with two sets ofsupports' and corresponding multiple camsY 'I'I and T8'.

I claim:

1. In a device for printing china and the like', a base, a table mountedon said base for rota# tion about a vertical axis, a work holding devicemounted eccentrically on said table for rotation with said table, workcentering members movably associated with said work holding device, astamping' assembly mounted eccentrically on said table for rotation withsaid table and including awork engaging stamp vertically aligned withthe work holding device, a driving connection for saidv l rotary tableadapted to rotate itabout its axis,

inking member for said stamp,fmounted on said.

table for rotation about a vertical axis for swinging movement into orout of position between said stamp and said work holding device, theactuating connection for said stamp including a member adapted to movesaid stamp downwardly a suiiicient distance to engage said inking memberand another member adapted to move said stamp downwardly a greaterdistance suficient to bring it into contact with the work, and anactuating connection for said inking member formed and adapted to moveit into and out of operative position below said stamp.

2. "In a device for printing china and the like, a base, a table mountedon said base for rotation about a vertical axis, a work holding devicemounted eccentrically on said table for rotation with said table, workcentering members movably associated with said work holding device, astamping assembly mounted eccentrically on said table for rotation withsaid table and including a work engaging stamp vertically aligned withthe Work holding device, a driving connection for said rotary tableadapted to rotate it about its axis, a drive assembly for moving saidcentering members toward work positioned on said work holding device,and an actuating connection for imparting relative vertical movement tosaid stamp and work support during rotation of said table, an inkingmember mounted on said table for movement into and out of alignment withsaid stamp, the actuating connection for the stamp including a pluralityof cams of different effective height, one of said cams being formed andadapted to engage said actuating connection and to impart a downwardmovement of the stamp of suiiicient distance to bringit into contactwith the work, another cam being of a height effective to impart to saidstamp, through said actuating connection, a shortened downward excursionsuincient only to move the stamp into contact with the inking memberwhen the inking member is between the working support and stamp.

3. In a device for printing china and the like, a base, a table mountedon said base for rotation about a vertical axis, a central columnupwardly extending from said table, a xed support upwardly extendingthrough said column, a circumferential cam track mounted on said xedsupport, concentric with the axis of rotation of said table and saidcentral column, an arm radially extending from said column, a stampguided for vertical movement on said arm, an actuating connection forsaid stamp including a member riding along said cam track, a pluralityof cams of different height on said cam track formed and adapted toimpart to said stamp a relatively short and a relatively long downwardexcursion, a Work holding device mounted eccentrically on said table forrotation with said table, and vertically aligned beneath said stamp,work centering members movably supported on said table in associationwith said work holding device, a cam xed in relation to said base, andan actuating connection for said work centering members including anactuating member formed and adapted to engage said last mentioned cam inresponse to rotation of said work holding de` vice with said table, aninking member mounted on said table and an ractuating connection forsaid inking member formed and adapted to move the inking member intoalignment with 'the stamp at the time of the relatively short downwardexcursion of the stamp.

4. In a device for printing china and the like, a rotary base and meansfor rotating it, a work support mounted on and movable with said base,

a stamp mounted on said base and movable vertically in relation thereto,said stamp being vertically aligned with said work support, an inkingmember mounted on the base for rotation therewith, means forintermittently moving said inking member into and out of a position inalignment with said stamp and work support, ink supply means mountedupon the base for rotation therewith, and means for intermittentlymoving the ink supply means into operative contact with the inkingmember when the latter is out of alignment with the stamp and worksupport, means for moving said stamp downwardly against said inkingmember when the inking member is between the stamp and the work support,and for thereafter moving the stamp downwardly against the Work when theinking member is out of alignment with the work support.

r5. The structure described in claim 4 wherein said ink supply meansincludes an arm mounted on the rotary base for oscillation about ahorizontal axis, an ink applicator carried by the arm, and meansoperative in response to rotation of the base for intermittently movingthe arm about said axis to bring the applicator into contact with theinking member.

6. In a device for printing china and the like. a base member, a tablemounted on the base for rotation about a vertical axis, a work holdingdevice mounted eccentrically on said table for rotation with the table,work centering members movably associated with said work holding device.a stamping assembly mounted eccentrically on said table for rotationwith said table and including 'a work engaging stamp vertically alignedwith the work holding device, inking mechanism mounted on the table andincluding an ink supply member and an inking member, means operative inlresponse to the rotation of the table for intermittently moving the inksupply member into contact with the inking member and for moving theinking member intermittently into and out of alignment with the stamp, adriving connection for said rotary table adapted to rotate it about itsaxis, a drive assembly for moving said centering means towards workposition on said work holding device, and an actuating connection forimparting relative vertical movement to the stamp and inking member whenthe stamp and inking member are aligned and an actuating connection forimparting relative vertical movement to the stamp and work support tobring the stamp into printing contact with the work when the inkingmember is out of alignment with the stamp, said actuating connectionsbeing operative in response to rotation of said table.

MARTIN MANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Emerson Aug. 19, 1947

